Recycling that rescues dolphins. Tying plastic bottles to gillnets cut dolphin deaths by nearly 90% in a new study, without reducing the fish catch. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242086

Trash of the week, tech of the future. Researchers turn cigarette butts into clean energy-storing materials. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/02/researchers-turn-cigarette-butts-into-clean-energy-storing-materials/

The overlooked wiring problem in the clean-energy transition. As more households add solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, researchers at Purdue found that running them all on DC power—not the AC current from the wall—could cut energy use and emissi https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242079

A polar bear paradox is unfolding in the Arctic. Against the backdrop of Arctic warming, polar bears in Norway’s far north are gaining fat and feeding on new prey—a testament to their adaptability. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/02/a-polar-bear-paradox-is-unfolding-in-the-arctic/

Biodegradable plastics are not a climate solution on their own. A new global life-cycle analysis finds that if not properly disposed of, biodegradable plastics could increase methane emissio https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/02/biodegradable-plastics-are-not-a-climate-solution-on-their-own/

This remarkable microbe could help farmers survive rising seas. As rising seas push salt water inland, scientists have found a naturally occurring bacterium that helps soybeans and other crops grow despite it—no genetic modification needed. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242064

Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen . . .at scale.. A Cambridge University team made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirt https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242055

Just how effective would a European meat tax be for the environment?. By removing meat subsidies or taxing carbon across all foods, researchers uncovered how small changes in price coul https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/just-how-effective-would-a-european-meat-tax-be-for-the-environment/

When war came to Chornobyl, the animals didn't all run away.. A new study offers rare evidence of how armed conflict reshapes wildlife behavior, with a few species moving toward human settlements rather than fleeing them—upending assumptions about ani https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242043

Ironically, buying green can quietly erase its own efficiency gains, new study finds. Researchers show how consumer eco-consciousness can trigger discounts on inefficient products, canceling the gains shoppers thought they'd locked in. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242033

New battery recycling method comes with a side of CO2 capture. Three-in-one strategy uses only carbon dioxide and water to recover 95% of lithium and reuses leftover metals, capturing CO2 in https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/new-battery-recycling-method-comes-with-a-side-of-co2-capture/

Rainforests can rebound—but not as quickly as the climate clock is ticking.. Left alone, tropical forests may recover—but experiments show that targeted nitrogen can dramatically https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/rainforests-can-rebound-but-not-as-quickly-as-the-climate-clock-is-ticking/

Swapping beef for salmon once a week could significantly cut emissions, study finds. A UK study comparing five dietary scenarios through 2050 found the simplest option delivered meaningful, realistic emissions reductions. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242013

Can cities build their way out of both the housing and the climate crises?. A massive global study finds cities can deliver millions of new homes without exhausting the world’s ca https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/can-cities-build-their-way-out-of-both-the-housing-and-the-climate-crises/

Icy winters are no match for these floating solar panels. Using foam and aquarium pumps, engineers designed a floating photovoltaic system that keeps working efficiently through Canadian winter conditions https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=242002

Pumas are quietly tracking your hiking and biking habits better than you think. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241991

Protecting forests is not just about biodiversity—it is now about protecting rain.. New evidence suggests that conserving forests, wetlands, and soils is critical not just https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/protecting-forests-is-not-just-about-biodiversityit-is-now-about-protecting-rain/

New AI agent tallies a gadget's emissions in the time it takes to brew tea. Researchers just built a multimodal AI system that scours spec sheets, iFixit teardowns, and YouTube videos to do carbon math that used to take human experts months. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241973

Should the climate fight shift focus from curbing emissions to reducing human suffering?. Bill Gates’ provocative question https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/should-the-climate-fight-shift-focus-from-curbing-emissions-to-reducing-human-suffering/

A new cooling technology freezes food without warming the climate. Researchers have built the first refrigerant-free system to reach sub-zero temperatures, a breakthrough that could reduce food waste a https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/zero-emissions-cooling-technology-achieves-sub-zero/

Scientists brew energy-efficient espresso. It is made without heat and 75% less energy.. A newly-developed method applies ultrasonic sound waves to turn room temperature water and coffee grounds into a quality espresso shot. Taste-testers couldn’t tel https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241959

This shape-shifting liquid, soaks up sunlight, stores energy, and releases it on demand. Northwestern engineers built a self-assembling liquid that morphs into an energy-storing gel and resets with nothing but air—no metal, no plastic, no battery casi https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241949

Are zoos still arks—or are they becoming nursing homes?. As reproduction slows and populations gray, scientists warn that many zoos are losing their capacity to function as effective conservation to https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/are-zoos-still-arks-or-are-they-becoming-nursing-homes/

Gorillas scarred by poaching learn to trust again. And it might help save them.. A 12-year study in Cameroon found that habituating gorillas to researchers might help reduce poaching activity and offer a model for protecting endangered apes. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241927

The climate friendly city is a bullseye. Urban planners have been asking the wrong question. It's not how dense a city is—it's how close. The sweet spot for shorter commutes and lower emissions, for many cities, forms a ring. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241931

People like the idea of being green. But they hate being told what to do even more.. A new survey suggests climate mandates could trigger a backlash even worse than COVID https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/people-like-the-idea-of-being-green-but-they-hate-being-told-what-to-do-even-more/

How seaweed farms could change the arithmetic of ocean carbon capture...for the better.. New research suggests that seaweed aquaculture boosts seawa https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/weve-overlooked-a-key-benefit-of-seaweed-farms-on-ocean-chemistry-for-the-first-time-scientists-quantify/

Researchers turn avocado toast into biodegradable food packaging. A strong yet degradable bioplastic made from avocado peels and stale bread tackles two global challenges: food waste and p https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/researchers-turn-avocado-toast-into-biodegradable-food-packaging/

Scientists have made jet fuel from plastic waste. Researchers have designed a catalyst that turns low-value styrofoam waste into valuable jet fuel at a cost competitive with petroleum-based fuels. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241910

Mangroves are making a comeback. It’s a rare climate success story.. For decades, we've catalogued what we're losing to climate change. A sweeping new study offers something harder to find—evidence that one of the planet's most vital coastal ecosystem https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241895

A tree’s bark can take a staggeringly large bite out of climate change. The trillions of microbes inhabiting tree bark can suck up planet-warming gases, scientists have discovered. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/a-trees-bark-can-take-a-staggeringly-large-bite-out-of-climate-change/

New US dietary guidelines would worsen carbon emissions and land use. Updated federal dietary guidelines finally take on ultra-processed junk food—but the push for more animal protein quietly erases every environmental gain, and then some. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241878

Europe's energy crisis has a silver lining: It just made going green a lot cheaper. High fossil fuel prices have flipped the math on renewable energy. New research shows t https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/06/europes-energy-crisis-has-a-silver-lining-it-just-made-going-green-a-lot-cheaper/

Here are three climate wins airlines could unlock tomorrow. No new technology required.. A global analysis finds that existing aircraft, flown differently, could deliv https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/here-are-three-climate-wins-airlines-could-unlock-tomorrow-no-new-technology-required/

A new kind of green revolution could start with self-fertilizing crops. Early experiments suggest that reprogramming plant immune receptors could one day slash the world’s dependence on nitro https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/new-research-takes-another-step-towards-self-sustaining-crops/

A radical carbon removal proposal in the Arctic. Scientists explore the potential of sinking timber to the cold, oxygen-free Arctic Ocean floor to lock away carbon dioxide for thousands of years. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/a-radical-carbon-removal-proposal-in-the-arctic/

What if DEET could become mosquito perfume rather than repellent?. Scientists tap into Pavlov's experiment to show they can train mosquitoes to love the smell of DEET. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241854

To complete its green transition, Europe should mine its own trash. Lithium in old batteries. Cobalt in discarded electronics. The rare earths in retired wind turbines. A landmark EU-funded study finds these buried materials could supply over half of https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241863

The perverse dilemma of reef recovery: Less fish now, more food later.. Scientists say coral fisheries could sustainably provide thousands of additional meals per square kilometer. But https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/the-perverse-dilemma-of-reef-recovery-less-fish-now-more-food-later/

The strange new economics of negative electricity pricing. As clean energy surges, utilities that once urged restraint may sometimes need to reward households for using electricity—reshaping how https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/01/the-strange-new-economics-of-negative-electricity-pricing/

What doesn't kill a soil microbe makes it stronger. Decades of agricultural stress appear to have forged unusually heat-resistant microbial communities. Researchers think cropland soils could be transplanted to restore fragile ecosystems. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241814

What happens to the small things when the big things disappear?. A 15-year field experiment in Kenya reveals that dung beetles—and the ecosystem services they provide—collapse when elephants disappear, offering evidence of coextinction in the wild. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241794

A shock to the system could slash cement’s emissions. By using electricity and recycled materials, researchers made a cement that cuts energy use by 70% and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 98% compared with traditional cement production https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241796

A landmark MIT study debunks persistent myths about electric vehicles. Think EVs don't make sense in cold climates, or that a dirty power grid cancels out the benefits? Researchers find the opposite is true—and that EVs cost no more to own than a comp https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241766

The unlikely ingredient that cleans wastewater and turns it into fertilizer: Bubbles. . Scientists discovered that plasma bubbles strip contaminants from industrial wastewater while locking in nitrogen. Garlic that grew in it nearly doubled in size. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241750

Coal plants are dimming the world's solar panels. Pollution from coal plants is canceling out roughly a third of every year's new solar capacity. The fix is obvious. The phase-out isn't. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241738

How a cave fungus became a municipal-finance problem…and a conservation solution.. New research links the spread of white-nose syndrome to higher municipal bond yields—and points to a novel way for investors to make money by saving wildlife. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241722

Your carbon footprint is only half the story. A pioneering study introduces a parallel metric, the plastic particle footprint — and uses it to rerank kettles, bottles, crates, and T-shirts. The winners aren't who you'd expect. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241717

Here's a wild circular solution. Wine waste could replace antibiotics on chicken farms. . A new study finds that grape pomace—the slop left over after winemaking—keeps chickens healthy almost as well as conventional antibiotics. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241692

Scientists made algae glow on demand. No electricity required.. A new chemical trick keeps bioluminescent sea organisms shining for 25 minutes straight, opening the door to living light bulbs, glowing robots, and pollution-sensing gels. https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=241680